Smoking pipe with improved draft holes

ABSTRACT

A brass smoking pipe is modified with numerous improvements. It is nickel-brass plated to prevent tarnishing. The draft holes are enlarged from the standard 1/16″ to 3/32″ diameter and drilled at an angle. The tar trap is drilled into a new deep-dish configuration. These modifications improve the pipe&#39;s draw. A titanium or quartz crystal retaining rod is provided, both to store multiple quartz crystal bowls in the storage canister and to serve as a domeless nail, converting an herb pipe to a concentrate pipe. A push nut holds quartz crystal bowls on the retaining rod. An oversized poker, available in brass, titanium, or glass, holds the tar trap in place and removes the tar trap for cleaning. The poker may be fitted with an easy-pull grip nut or a removal tool to remove the retaining rod and quartz crystal bowls from the storage canister.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of smoking pipes, specifically brasspipes.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The classic smoking pipe is made of hard wood. It is used to smoke dryherbs such as tobacco. The pipe has a bowl to contain the leaves, whichare then lit to produce smoke. The smoke is then inhaled through ahollow stem. Modern pipes are made of glass or metal. In addition to dryleaves, modern pipes are also used to smoke vapors from hot oils.

3. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY

In the 20^(th) century, Phil Jergenson invented the popular brasssmoking pipe marketed as the Proto Pipe®, the subject of U.S. Pat.D259,587. The Proto Pipe® has a brass bowl for containing dry herbs. Thebottom of the bowl is perforated with draft holes. Directly beneath thedraft holes is a hollow chamber. The smoke channel leads out of thishollow chamber into the stem. At the bottom of the hollow chamber is atar trap, which collects gummy residue that drips through the draftholes when the herbs are burned.

One well known problem with the Proto Pipe® is that it is notoriouslydifficult to remove the tar trap for cleaning. The tar glues the trapinto place. Another problem is that the pipe tarnishes over time.Further, the pipe is a product of earlier times when herbs were harderto clean. The draft holes are limited to 1/16″ in diameter in order tokeep dirt from falling into the hollow chamber. The small draft holeslimit the pipe's airflow capacity, known in the art as the draw.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a modification of the Proto Pipe® with severalimprovements. It is nickel-and-brass plated to prevent tarnishing. Ithas enlarged draft holes and an enlarged tar trap for increased draw.The invention provides a groove and O-ring around the tar trap forgreater ease of removal and cleaning.

A quartz crystal bowl is provided. The quartz crystal bowl is useful forsmoking dry herb, oil, or oil-infused herb. The invention provides aplurality of quartz crystal bowls, which fit inside the storage chamberas a cartridge. Other improvements will be presented in detail below.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view looking into the brass bowl.

FIG. 2 is a first perspective view of the bottom of the invention. Thisfigure shows a tar trap positioned to be inserted into a chamber on thebottom of the invention, and a quartz crystal bowl positioned to beinserted into the quartz crystal bowl on the top of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a second perspective view of the bottom of the invention,looking into the tar trap chamber.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the “deep dish” tar trap of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the deep dish tar trap, cut along adiameter. This view showcases the groove-and-O-ring feature of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6, subfigures 6A-6E, depicts variations of the poker grip nut.

FIG. 7 shows a small removable glass smoking bowl inside the invention'sfixed brass bowl.

FIG. 8 shows a perforated washer modified to form a push nut. It alsoshows such a washer inserted onto a retaining rod.

FIG. 9 shows a retaining rod inserted into a quartz crystal bowl. Thequartz crystal bowl is supported by a push nut.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of FIG. 9 inserted into the brass pipe,as a flame heats the quartz crystal bowl.

FIG. 11 shows a quartz crystal bowl inserted onto one end of a retainingrod.

FIG. 12 shows a plurality of quartz crystal bowls inserted onto aretaining rod. They are being lowered into a storage canister, likecartridges in a magazine.

FIG. 13 shows all the components of the smoking pipe assembly.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Each part of the invention is numbered with a digit that indicates thefigure in which the part first appears. For example, part 221 firstappears in FIG. 2. If that part has sub-parts in the same figure, thenthe sub-part number begins with the part number. For instance, part 221is the first sub-part of part 22.

The invention is a modified brass smoking pipe. Production begins with astandard solid brass pipe 11, ideally the Proto Pipe® or a similararticle. The essential parts of the unmodified pipe are a brass bowl 111with a central draft hole 1111 and peripheral draft holes 1112, amouthpiece 112, a storage canister 113, a removable poker 114 that fitsinto a poker stem 23, a hollow chamber 21 beneath the brass bowl, and aremovable tar trap 22 that fits within the hollow chamber.

The improved pipe is coated with a plate of nickel, which is then platedwith another layer of brass. This plating is enough to keep the pipefrom tarnishing.

The draft holes in a standard brass pipe are 1/16 inch in diameter. Thisis a holdover from days when available herbs were dryer and dirtier thantoday (about 5% dirt by volume). With today's cleaner product, the pipecan function with larger holes. The next modification is to use a drillto expand each draft hole 1111 and 1112 to a diameter of 3/32 inch. SeeFIG. 1. Furthermore, each peripheral draft hole 1112 is drilled at anangle deviating 10-30° (optimally 15°) from vertical. This helps toreduce tar trap buildup.

The tar trap 22 is a solid brass plug that is concave on top to collecttar from burning herbs. The next major improvement in the currentinvention is a deepening of the tar trap. FIGS. 4 and 5 show themodified and improved tar trap with its improved deep dish 41. The deepdish 41 is created with a drill press. It has a depth of ¼ inch. Notethe vertical interior walls 411 and concavity 412. These features areimprovements over the Proto Pipe®. The Proto Pipe® tar trap only has ashallow depression on top. The deep dish serves two advantages. First,it works with the larger draft holes to increase the pipe's draw.Secondarily, it gives the tar trap greater capacity for increased usebetween cleanings. The deep dish helps to cool smoke before it is drawnthrough the smoke hole 221 into the mouthpiece 112. The dish is alsodeep enough to accommodate a flavor pad.

Note that the deep-dish concavity 412 sits essentially below the smokehole 221. This keeps smoke and tar from seeping out of the tar trap intothe hollow chamber 21. In a traditional Proto Pipe®, this seepagecreates a layer of residue around the tar trap, gluing the tar trap intothe hollow chamber.

The improved tar trap is modified to fit better into the hollow chamberfor easier insertion and removal. The Proto Pipe® tar trap is taperedand then press fit into the hollow chamber. By contrast, the modifiedtar trap has a vertical external wall 223. The external wall has acircumferential groove 51. An O-ring 222 fits into the circumferentialgroove 51. The O-ring provides a tight seal for the tar trap when it isinserted into the hollow chamber. Because of this seal, it is notnecessary to press fit the modified tar trap into the hollow chamber.The tar trap is removed for cleaning much more easily.

The poker 114 is a multi-functional tool. Normally, it fits in place onthe underside of the pipe, as shown best in FIG. 2. The improved pokercomes in two lengths: standard length and low-profile length. Since itis important to insert and remove the poker regularly, one embodiment ofthe present invention provides an improved grip nut 61 welded to thefirst end 1141 of the poker, as shown best in FIG. 6A. The grip nutprovides for good grip and an easy pull to remove the poker from thepoker stem 23. The grip nut comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, anddesigns, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B-6E. FIG. 6B shows a 1/72 solid brassgrip nut. FIG. 6C is the daisy screen copper grip nut. FIG. 6D shows a4/40 solid brass grip nut. FIG. 6E shows a 4/40 stainless steel gripnut. The grip nut also serves as an improved packing tool for the herb.

The Proto Pipe® uses only a straight steel wire to hold the tar trap inplace. The improved pipe has an enlarged poker 114. A second end 25 ofthe poker 114 protrudes into the hollow chamber 21, as visible in FIGS.2 and 3. The second end of the poker fits into the poker groove 42,locking the tar trap into place. This not only secures the tar trap inthe hollow chamber, but maintains the correct orientation so the smokehole 221 correctly aligns with the entrance to the mouthpiece 112.

The poker is also used to remove the tar trap. The second end 25 of thepoker 114 fits through the central draft hole 1111 of the brass bowl andpushes down on the tar trap 22. This action easily removes the tar trap.The same action is notoriously difficult for the Proto Pipe®. In theProto Pipe®, the tar trap is press fit. Furthermore, without the O-ring,the Proto Pipe® tar trap tends to get completely glued into the hollowchamber with tar.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown in the figures) the poker maytake the form of a hex key or Allen wrench, with a 90° bend in the firstend 1141. The 90° bend replaces the grip nut. In this embodiment, thesecond end 25 has a hexagonal cross-section. The hexagonal cross-sectionfits into the screw 115 to adjust the screw more loosely or tightly. Thescrew, in turn, secures the lid 116 of the pipe.

The poker may be formed of brass or a material with a high melting pointsuch as grade 2 titanium or glass. Brass, titanium, and some forms ofglass have melting points above 1,600° C. A heat-resistant poker isuseful when the poker is used to dab concentrates.

Some smokers prefer to keep their herb in a quartz crystal bowl 24. Thequartz crystal bowl is made of quartz crystal glass. It fits inside thebrass bowl, as shown in FIG. 7. The quartz crystal bowl provided in thepresent invention has a central draft hole 241 and four peripheral draftholes 242. The peripheral draft holes are drilled, while the centraldraft hole is laser-cut. The central draft hole is oversized, with adiameter of 3/32 inch. When fitted into the brass bowl, as seen in FIG.7, the draft holes of the quartz crystal bowl align with the draft holesof the brass bowl. Regardless of the quartz crystal bowl's orientation,its oversized central draft hole 241 will always align fully with thecentral draft hole 1111 of the brass bowl, allowing for maximal draw.After the pipe's first use, the burned herbs will form a resin or tarthat will hold the quartz crystal bowl in place within the brass bowl.

The improved invention modifies a brass pipe to serve as a concentratepipe. A concentrate is an herbal oil made into a concentrated wax orliquid. For example, e-juice is a tobacco concentrate used ine-cigarettes. To set up the pipe to smoke concentrate, a retaining rod81 is fitted through the central draft hole of a quartz crystal bowl asseen in FIG. 9. The other end of the retaining rod is secured in thebrass bowl 111, as shown in FIG. 10. A stabilizing hole (not shown) canbe drilled in the center of the deep-dish tar trap for this purpose. Theconfiguration shown in FIG. 10 is also known in the art as a domelessnail. A flame is then used to heat and vaporize the concentrate. Sinceit is subject to intense heat, the retaining rod 81 is made of materialwith a high melting point, ideally titanium or quartz crystal glass,which have melting points above 1,600° C.

FIG. 11 shows a quartz crystal bowl 24 fitted to a retaining rod 81. Theretaining rod is long enough to accommodate up to six quartz crystalbowls, as seen stacked adjacently in FIG. 12. This configuration forms acartridge system. The retaining rod has substantially the same length asthe storage canister, making it difficult to remove the cartridgeassembly from the storage canister with fingers. For this purpose, aremoval tool 11-1 is provided. This is a hollow metallic stem that fitssnugly over the retaining rod. A divot or slight indentation (not shown)can be added to the removal tool to make it hold the retaining rod moretightly. It is then easy to grab the removal tool and pull the cartridgeassembly out of the storage canister. In the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 13, the removal tool 11-1 is permanently secured to thefirst end 1141 of the poker 114; such a poker does not have a grip nut61.

A push nut 82 is provided to facilitate holding a quartz crystal bowl 24on a retaining rod 81. A push nut is a washer with a concave face 821and a convex face 822 (not shown directly). The washer is perforatedwith a central hole 823. The configuration of the push nut makes itunidirectional. When a push force is applied to the convex face, thecentral hole is slightly opened, allowing the push nut to slide alongthe rod in the direction of its concave face. However, when a push forceis applied to the concave face, the central hole is slightly closed,making the push nut seize up on the retaining rod. In this regard, thepush nut is like a Tinnerman washer.

The push nut provides support for one or more quartz crystal bowls on aretaining rod. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a quartz crystal bowl 24 sitting atopa push nut 82 on the retaining rod 81. A push nut would also be used tosupport the cartridge of quartz crystal bowls on the retaining rod, justout of sight in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 shows all the parts of the assembly. When they are all put backtogether, the retaining rod 81 and the removal tool 11-1 fit in thestorage canister. The poker 114 fits into the poker stem 23 and the tartrap 22 fits into place in the hollow chamber beneath the brass bowl111.

I claim:
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 8. A smoking pipe assembly,comprising a brass smoking pipe comprising a brass bowl with a center; acentral draft hole at the center of the brass bowl; one or moreperipheral draft holes in the brass bowl, not at the center; saidcentral draft hole and peripheral draft holes measuring at least 3/32″inch in diameter; said peripheral draft holes drilled at an angle of10°-30° toward the center of the brass bowl.
 9. The smoking pipeassembly of claim 8, further comprising a storage canister with astorage canister diameter; a plurality of quartz crystal bowls smallerthan the brass bowl and smaller than the storage canister, each quartzcrystal bowl having a top rim, a bottom surface, and a central drafthole centered in the bottom surface; said quartz crystal bowls stackedto form a cartridge; a retaining rod passing through the central draftholes of all the quartz crystal bowls in the cartridge; a supportattached to the retaining rod and underneath the closed bottom surfaceof the bottom-most quartz crystal bowl; said quartz crystal bowls,retaining rod, and support stored inside the storage canister; adiameter of the retaining rod; a removal tool, in the form of a cylinderwith at least one open end, a hollow interior, and a diameter of thehollow interior equal to the diameter of the retaining rod.
 10. Thesmoking pipe assembly of claim 9, wherein the retaining rod is composedof a material with melting point above 1,600° C.; the central draft holeof each quartz crystal bowl is at least 3/32 inches in diameter.
 11. Thesmoking pipe assembly of claim 10, wherein each support is a washer witha concave face, a convex face, and a central hole; further comprising alayer of nickel plated onto the brass smoking pipe; a layer of brassplated onto the layer of nickel; and further comprising a hollow chamberunderneath the brass bowl; a poker stem opening into the hollow chamber;a poker with first end and second end, with the first end fitted intothe poker stem; a grip nut on the second end of the poker; said pokerstem opening into the hollow chamber; said first end of the pokerprotruding through the poker stem into the hollow chamber; a tar trap inthe hollow chamber, said tar trap having a vertical exterior wall; agroove carved partly through the vertical exterior wall of the tar trap;so that the first end of the poker fits into the groove.
 12. (canceled)13. (canceled)
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